Hydrocarbon vaporizing device for starting motors



g T. J, LITLE, JR

HYDROCARBON VAPQRIZING DEVICE FOR STARTING MOTORS Filed Ju'1yv23, 1920 r 0 6 at 1 W Patented Aug. 30, 1927.

outrun STATES teale902 PATENT OFFICE.

THOMAS J. LITLE, JR., 0! DETROIT, MICHIGAN, ASSIGNOR, BY MESNE ASSIGNMENTS,

' TO LINCOLN MOTOR COMPANY, A. CORPORATION OF DELAWARE.

HYDBOCABLBON VAPOBIZING DEVICE FOR STARTING MOTORS.

Application filed July 28, 1920. Serial 80. 388,888.

The present invention is primarily designed to overcome the difliculties encountered in starting hydrocarbon engines, especially with low grade fuel and in cold weather: It is well known that in starting a cold motor the fuel, even when properly vaporized by the carburetor, will condense in the intake pipe and in the cylinders, thus leaving in the cylinders a mixture which it is ditilcult to ignite. To overcome this difiiculty it has been customary to use an excess of fuel in proportion to air for starting with the result of carbonizing the explosion chambers and causing contamination of the lubricating oil by fuel which gathers on the cylinders and works its way past the pistons into the crank case.

y cordance with the present invention a sufficient amount of liquid fuel may be thoroughly vaporized and delivered to the intake pipe at or before the moment of starting the engine so as to produce proper combustion and smooth operation on starting. One form of the device is illustrated in the accompanying drawings in which I Figure 1 illustrates in side elevation a carburetor equipped with the improved vaporizer and with a starting switch and l igure 2 is a sectional view of the vaporizer and a portion of the carburetor;

Referring to the drawings, 10 indicates a carburetor of standard design, 11 the throttle shaft, 12- the float chamber, 13 the passage through which gasoline is delivered from the float chamber to the delivery nozzle, 14 the nozzle, lathe air intake and 16 the air valve or choke valve. The operation of all of these parts is well known and further description of them will not be necessar 'l he vaporizing device comprises a small casing which is shown in the form of a tube 17 and in which there is a heating coil 1.8. Une end of the coil is grounded in the casing l? as indicated at 19 and the other end of the coil is connected to a terminal 20 which is fixed in a plug 21 or" non-conducting material which serves also to close the lower end of the casing 17.

The coil 18 is packed in mineral wool or similar non-combustible material 22, and ,between this material and the upper and o the device is located a diaphragm of wire with a nipple 26 whic means of a device constructedin ac-,

gauze 23, for a purpose to be presently ex: plained.

As shown, the upper end of the tubular casing 17 is connected to a fitting which is screwed into the bottom of the carburetor between the choke valve 16 and the jet or nozzle 14 and one or more openings 25 through the fitting permit gasoline to flow from the carburetor into the vaporizer when the vaporizer is not in operation and permit the gas generated by the vaporizer to flow to the carburetor and intake ipe when electric current is passed through the coil 18. The fitting 24 is referably provided projects into the carburetor for the delivery of gas but which does not ordinarily receive the liquid fuel from the carburetor.

The vaporizer thusdescribed may be located at any point at which it can be conveniently supplied with gasoline and from whence it may discharge its vapors into the carburetor or intake. It is well known that in the ordinary operation ofthe usual carburetor a considerable amount of unvaporized fuel gathers on the walls of the intake pipe and the mixing chamber and flows back into the space surrounding the delivery jet. As shown in the drawings the vaporize-r. has been so located that this fuel will drain into it through the openings 25, thus providing, while the engine is running, sutficient fuel in the vaporizer -for again starting the engine after it is stopped. Of course when the en-' gine is warm the vaporizer will not be needed for starting. l l hen starting a cold engine however, current from the usual storage battery is switched through the coil 18 in solidcient quantity to heat the coil quickly to a high degree. The lhpuid fuel in the vaporizer is almost instant y changed into considerable volume of gaseous fuel which is discharged into the carburetor and thence through the mixing chamber and intake pipe to the engine,- it is found that with ordinary gasoline or kerosene a gas may he instantly produced, in the manner described, which has the quality-of being permanent, that is, it will not appreciably condense in a cold carburetor and intake pipe, but will pass to the cylinders in gaseous dorm. At the moment of producing the gas the choke valve f 16 should be closed to avoid too great dilution of the gas with air and the engine should be started so as to drawin the gas and the ordinary supply of air which is obtained through the usual main air inlet of the carburetor. It has been found that by actual test a cold engine, at a temperature below zero, can be thus started in a few seconds.

. vent ignition of the gas in the carburetor from the coil. Such ignition however is not likely to occur if the current through the 0011 is not maintained for too lon a period and v in order to prevent trouble 0 this character and also to prevent the fusing of the coil, an automaticswitch is provided which Wlll cut oil the current when the coil has been heated to the proper degree. The particular form of automatic switch illustrated in the drawings will now be described.

The switch comprises a body of insulating material 27 in which is mounted a terminal 28 connected by the wire 29 with the terminal 20 of the vaporizer. A second terminal 30 is connected by wire 31 to the battery or other source of current supply, and it will be understood that the grounded end 19 of the coil is connected to the other pole of the battery or source of supply. 011 one of the terminals, as 28, there is mounted a bar 32 which tends to spring into contact with the other terminal and which is normally held out of contactby a cam 33 connected to a push button 34 the cam being held in the position shown in the drawing by means of a spring 35. On pushing the button 34 inward the bar 32 will spring into contact with the terminal 30, causing the current to flow through the coil 18. The spring bar 32 is preferably a compound bar which will act as a thermostat and it is constructed of material which will heat when current is passing through it, so that if the button be pushed in and held the thermostatic switch will open the circuit automatically when suficient gas has been produced by the coil 18. If the push button be properly manipulated the thermostatic switch might be dispensed with but it is preferable to use it to prevent over heating and possible fusion of the coil.

Having described the invention what is claimed is: 1. In a hydrocarbon motor, the combination with theintake pipe havin an air inlet and a fuel nozzle opening tiereinto between the air inlet and the engine, of a receptacle positioned intermediate the air inlet and-the mouth ofthe fuel nozzle for receiving liquid fuel collecting in the intake pipe, and means enclosed within said receptacle so as to be out of contact with the gaseous current passing to the engine, for vaporizing the liquid fuel received therein.

2. The combination set forth in claim 1 in which said vaporizin means comprises an electric heating coi and additional means is provided for directing electric cur rent through said coil at will.

3. The combination set forth in claim 1 in which said vaporizing means comprises an electric heating coil and in which a quantity of absorbent material is enclosed w1thin said receptacle and isdisposed around and in contact with the heating coil.

4. In a hydrocarbon motor, the combinapositioned intermediate the air inlet and the mouth of the fuel nozzle for receiving liquid fuel collecting in the intake pipe, said receptacle depending from and being secured to the intake pipe at its lowest point and being adapted to receive liquid fuel collecting in the intake pipe, the mouth of the receptacle being in communication with the intake pipe, and means in said receptacle for vaporizing the liquid fuel received therein, said vaporizing means being wholly out of contact with the gaseous current passing through the intake pipe.

5. The combination set forth in claim a in which said. receptacle has a restricted opening into the intake pipe which serves both as an inlet for liquid fuel and an outlet for gaseous vapor.

6. The combination set forth in claim t in which said receptacle contains a quantity of absorbent material and in which a restricted opening serves as a common inlet for liquid fuel and outlet for gaseous vapor, the liquid being held in said receptacle until wholly vaporized.

7. In a hydrocarbon motor, the combination with the intake pipe having an air inlet and a fuel nozzle opening thereinto between the air inlet and the engine, of a receptacle for liquid fuel having communication with the interior of the intake pipe thru'a restricted aperture, and means contained within said receptacle for vaporizing liquid fuel, said means lying wholly'without the intake pipe and out of the path of the gaseous current passing therethru, the liquid uel assing into said receptacle being retaine therein until vaporized and the resulting vapor passing-into intake pipe thru said restricted aperture.

In testimony whereof I afix my signature.

THOMAS J. nrrnn, JR.

'80 the air inlet and the engine, of a receptacle its 

